Arizona football fans celebrated a thrilling 29-26 comeback win over TCU on Saturday night, a result that lifted the Wildcats to a 7-2 overall record and a 4-2 standing in the Big 12. Pro Football Focus (PFF) awarded Arizona an overall grade of 77.9, reflecting solid play on both sides of the ball.
Offensive and defensive grades
The Wildcats’ offense received a 69.3 overall grade, while the defense was rated slightly higher at 71.2. Among the unit’s strengths, the run defense stood out with a 78.1 grade, the highest mark for Arizona in the game. Conversely, pass blocking proved to be the weakest area, earning a low 54.5 grade.
Top individual performances
Several players distinguished themselves with grades above 70 while logging at least 20 snaps. Wide receiver Giovanni Richardson posted the highest overall grade at 89.7, followed by fellow receiver Isaiah Mizell (74.8). On the line, defensive tackle Leroy Palu earned a 72.3 grade, and running back Kedrick Reescano contributed a 71.5 grade on offense. Quarterback Noah Fifita was rated 71.3, and safety Lee Molette III received a 70.2 grade.
Line play and blocking
In the pass‑blocking department, center Zach Henning led the way with an 85.2 grade, while left guard Rhino Tapa’atoutai (83.7) and running back Reescano (77.8) also performed well. Run‑blocking grades were lower across the board, with Henning (62.8), Mizell (62.1) and right guard Alexander Doost (61.1) posting the top marks.
Pass rush and run defense
Arizona’s pass rush was anchored by Palu (65.4), defensive end Smith (64.8) and linebacker Cooper Blomstrom (64.7). The run‑defense unit highlighted Palu again (73.7), safety Quinn Olson (72.1) and cornerback Tyrese Boss (70.3). Tackling was a strong point, led by linebacker Taye Brown (83.6), with Boss (81.6) and Molette III (80.0) close behind.
Coverage and secondary play
In coverage, linebacker Everett Roussaw Jr. earned a 71.7 grade, followed by Brown (70.5) and Molette III (69.3). These numbers illustrate a balanced effort by the secondary in limiting TCU’s passing attack.
What the win means for Arizona
The victory keeps Arizona in contention for a Big 12 bowl berth and demonstrates the team’s ability to improve throughout a game. Coach and staff can point to the defensive grades as evidence of progress, especially in run defense, while acknowledging the need to tighten pass‑blocking techniques moving forward.
Looking ahead
Next up, the Wildcats will travel to face a conference opponent, where they will aim to build on the momentum generated in Tucson. Fans can expect the coaching staff to emphasize continued development in the trenches and to leverage the standout performances of Richardson, Palu and the defensive unit.
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
